Before the Dead Walked, page 16
The colonel was amazed by her story, because men never think of those things. Males just undo their pants and take a piss in a bush, simple as that. “Well, Ensign Alvarez, if I’m ever in a position to make some changes around here, I’ll make certain that American engineers start erecting women’s washrooms all over that fucking country.”
She nodded and said, “I thought you might.”
The accompanying Rangers all had a good laugh.
“Do you need to stop, Ensign?” Darby inquired.
“That would be nice,” she replied. “I just have to pee.”
The men walked a short distance past the hillside to give Lupita some privacy. When she rejoined them, she smiled and said, “Much better, thank you.”
They eventually found railroad tracks and hoped they were on the right path. It was still quite a hike. However, after about seven miles, Sergeant Darby recognized the area from the maps he had studied six months earlier, just as the colonel had expected. It was all part of a complicated escape and evasion plan approved by the Pentagon before the operation began.
From a safe distance, they watched the tunnel and approach through binoculars.
“We need a distraction,” Hatch decided.
“I have something in mind, sir.” Darby offered. “Did you notice that engine sitting on that spur? We’ll send it heading west. It will mess with their minds and create all sorts of chaos along the way.”
“Thank you, Sergeant. It sounds like it should work.”
“Don’t mention it, sir,”
Hatch said. “We need to work as a team, if we have any hope in hell of getting back home.”
“I agree, sir,” Darby said.
Several hours later, in the fading twilight, the Russian plains resembled a dark green sea. The afternoon breeze caused the grass to ripple like waves, which rolled majestically toward the gray-black mountains in the distance. Here and there, branches of oak trees broke through the undulating surface, flotsam adrift on the ocean of vegetation.
And the track signal lights changed from red to green.
“Signal our departure,” Colonel Hatch ordered.
Sergeant Ramirez obeyed. He pulled on the cord, which dangled down from the cab ceiling. The air horn emitted a single warning blast.
Darby released the brakes. Simultaneously, he pulled the throttle back into the first notch, engaging the generators to turn the twelve driving wheels. The colonel watched the ammeter needle bounce. When it reached 200, he pulled the throttle into the second notch. The ammeter needle continued to climb, but the train remained motionless.
Sergeant Ramirez was about to comment, but thought better of it.
At the third throttle, the hum of those powerful diesel engines became a low roar and with a barely perceptible jerk, the train began to inch forward. It snaked its way from the loading track to the departure line, the steel wheels clattering through the crossover and clinking at each rail joint.
Hatch turned to look at First Sergeant Darby.
They both smiled.
“Sir, if you don’t mind my asking, but how come you know so much?” Sergeant Ramirez wondered.
The officer shrugged. “I pick things up as I go along. Not sure how I remembered this, exactly, but I’ve been on trains many times. I’m so old I remember traveling on trains, which puts me way ahead of most of you.”
Darby didn’t know whether to believe Colonel Hatch or not. There seemed to be something odd about the colonel. It wasn’t exactly dishonesty, but Hatch was definitely hiding something.
“Just one more question, sir,” Specialist Powers said. “Is there any chance the Russians will know what we’ve just done?”
“Not likely, son,” Hatch replied. “They have CTC, where all trains operate on a centralized traffic control system. They’ll just assume something was on the tracks. There’s this big electronic map on one wall that shows the position of every train in Russia. There’s this overworked, underpaid guy who sits there and monitors every train. He controls all the signals and switches from Moscow. The minute he see some deviation from the normal operating procedures, he’s going the trigger the red flag. Your sergeant is a very smart man to come up with this harebrained idea.”
“Why is that, Colonel, sir?” Powers wondered.
Hatch grinned. “The Russians will be so concerned about this runaway train heading towards Moscow, they won’t notice the Siberian Express slowing down for a just a moment, long enough for us to board her. Darby even picked one of the luxury trains, because there will be more places to hide, especially inside the baggage cars.”
The colonel divided his attention between the ammeter and speedometer, moving the throttle from one notch to another in response to the dancing power gauge needles. At the final notch, he allowed it to remain until proper cruising speed was reached, then eased it off to the fifth notch. Full power wasn’t necessary to keep the train at constant pace on level track.
“Everybody off,” Hatch ordered.“What about you, sir?” Darby asked.
“I’ve got to make sure this train has enough speed,” the colonel replied. “Even if they manage to get it relocated on a siding, they have to make sure it doesn’t plow into anything important. After it barrels through a few stations, they’ll figure out the engine isn’t manned and get some Spetnatz to drop down on to the moving train. It won’t take them long to figure out it was a diversion, but maybe by then it won’t matter.”
The Rangers climbed down and jumped off. They joined Ensign Alvarez and watched the train rumble down the track. About a mile ahead, Specialist Thomas lay down in the frozen grass alongside as a train roared past in the opposite direction. The ground shook from its passage as if from an enemy bombardment. As both the noise and vibrations faded, Thomas got to his feet and checked his watch. He stomped his feet, beating his hands together to drive away the cold. Along the empty tracks heading east, the other men did the same but their relief was only temporary.
Thomas was worried. Their timing had to be perfect, or they would be left behind. Colonel Hatch figured the eastbound Siberian Express would slow down just enough for the Americans to board the moving train, but if they dropped too early, they would be crushed to death, and too late, they would make a painful landing, abandoned to their fate.
“All right men, let’s get on top of that tunnel ledge,” Sergeant Darby ordered. “We’ve got to make this perfect.”
He looked at Lupita Alvarez.
She smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “I assure you that I’m in great shape and I’ll be right alongside your men when they jump.”
Maxwell couldn’t help it. He took another glance as her shapely ass and said, “I have no doubt of that, Ensign. I just hope you don’t distract my men.”
They both laughed.
Once the westbound distraction was on its way, Colonel Hatch stepped off, rolling down the hill. He came up on his feet, laughed, and dusted off his pants. Then, without a moment’s delay, he took off in the direction of the tunnel.
The classic Moscow to Vladivostok Trans-Siberian route was 9,288km long. The Trans-Siberian Railway crossed through ten time zones. A total of 19 per cent of the route was in Europe and the other 81 per cent was in Asia. A small obelisk at 1,778km marked the Europe/Asia line.
Sergeant Darby accepted the fact that it would be next to impossible to make the entire trip without being discovered. When that happened and if that happened, he would have to decide whether to fight or flee. In either case, the repercussions could be monumental. The only advantage the Americans had was that they knew what was coming.
Colonel Hatch joined them, a bit winded, but obviously energized. He took Lupita’s hand and squeezed. “Did you miss me?”
She nodded and squeezed back.
Specialist Thomas remained behind, squatting beside the track, his right hand resting lightly on the nearest rail. He expected to feel the vibration of the oncoming train he could neither see nor hear. At this grade, it would slow down considerably, giving his comrades time to jump down on the rear cars. He would give the signal, before running like hell to catch up.
It was a little over two hours later when the train made its approach up to the grade. The freshly painted navy-blue passenger cars glistened in the sun, offering a stunning contrast to the surrounding green. The Americans on top of the tunnel made ready.
“The actual drop isn’t that far, less than six feet, but if you land badly, you’ll slide right off,” Darby warned everybody.
“Let’s line up, people,” Sergeant Stillwell coached. “You go in twos. Colonel Hatch and Ensign Alvarez will jump second, after Chief Collins and Sergeant Ramirez.”
Specialist Thomas gave the signal, waving from his position.
“Alright everybody, the train has entered the tunnel,” Sergeant Ramirez announced. “Wait until Top gives you the go-ahead. We’re leaping after the observation car and dining car clears. There are two baggage cars after that.”
Lupita took the colonel’s hand.
He looked over and gave her a big smile.
“Ready?” Sergeant Darby asked after the lead diesel engine exited rumbling out of the tunnel, followed by another and yet another. The power of the engines made the entire hillside shake.
“Get set,” Darby shouted over the noise. “Get ready.”
The observation car appeared and then the dining car.
“Go!” Darby shouted.
The first pair leaped.
Their landing was precise. They hit dead center on the first baggage car.
Right afterwards, Hatch and Alvarez jumped together.
The colonel landed well, skidded a bit, but took hold of the rooftop filter.
Lupita, however, missed her mark by just inches and slid down the slick surface of the baggage car roof. The colonel watched in horror, as her outstretched fingers barely missed the fresh-air intake cone.
With no thought to his own safety, Hatch vaulted through the air, to land roughly a few feet from her. The impact almost knocked the air out of him.
Instinctively, he stretched out his leg and shouted, “Grab my foot.”
Just then, two more Rangers landed, the impact shuddering the rooftop.
Lupita skidded further to the edge.
“God damn it!” Hatch cursed. He literally flung himself toward the baggage car roof’s edge. With his outstretched left arm, he clawed at the vent grating, while focusing on Lupita Alvarez’s right hand. There was no stopping her plummeting off the edge.
Colonel Robert Hatch remembered how it was during the Gulf War. There they were - a small band of brothers, under fire, cut off from any help. The helicopter hovered and their lives swung in the balance. There was no fucking way he was going to let them perish. Down he repelled, snatching hold of that first Ranger’s hand…
So the colonel said goodbye to life, to everything he held dear. There was no turning back. He had to save her life, no matter the cost.
With one last herculean effort, Hatch swore allegiance to all the legendary gods and heroes throughout mythology and time itself. He reached out and snagged Lupita’s wrist, pulling her up to his chest.
She sobbed with relief.
“I’ve got you,” he stammered. They held each other for at least ten minutes, just regaining their breath.
Helping hands pulled them to the rooftop vent, where one-by-one, the Americans lowered themselves inside. Miraculously, everyone had made it, including Specialist Thomas, who sprinted like an Olympic runner to catch the rear car of the Siberian Express.
The first leg of the trip was from Moscow to Irkutsk. That would take 74 hours of non-stop train travel. Then the interlopers would be aboard for a short 6.5 hour ride to their second stop of Ulan-Ude. While the train was in the station to take on new passengers, the Americans had to hide, while the baggage was rearranged. Several times it was a close call to being discovered, but they had chosen good locations behind heavy crates. Once the train pulled away from the station, the Rangers came out slowly, just to make sure the coast was clear. Since the baggage cars received only limited heating, it was a bit chilly. Specialist Thomas found several nice winter coats, including an expensive red-fox fur one especially for Ensign Alvarez. She nodded her thanks and snuggled up against the soft luxury.
Three hours later, warning lights blinked on again. There were unexpected visitors entering the first luggage car in line. The Americans barely had enough time to scramble behind cover.
The unwelcome and unexpected intruders turned out to be an amorous young couple looking for a secluded place to have sex. Of course it was the adventure of train travel, coupled with the rhythmic motion. Breaking open a cold bottle of bubbly, the young man helped the woman shimmy out of her clothes. He poured two glasses of champagne, while she performed oral sex. Interrupting her, he switched places while she sipped. The man lifted the woman up onto a stack of boxes and the proceeded to engage in sexual intercourse.
For the hidden Rangers, the close proximity of carnal knowledge was extremely uncomfortable. Lust has its own language and as the couple reached mutual climax, the baggage car echoed with the sounds of orgasms.
Perhaps nobody noticed at the time, but Lupita snuggled closer to Colonel Hatch, burying her face against his chest. Their intimacy was pure and warm and innocent, as much as it could be under the circumstances. Robert smiled. It was special to feel needed again.
The lovers, once satisfied, cleaned up and headed back the way they had come. Once the entrance lights shut off, there was a noisy collective sigh from eight people.
“Damn, I won’t be able to sleep for a week,” Specialist Thomas said.
“Begging forgiveness from the ensign, but what I didn’t need right then was two people fucking in my ear,” commented Sergeant Ramirez.
Muffled laughter came from everyone, including Lupita.
Hatch adjusted himself, trying to relieve his uncomfortableness. He looked over at Sergeant Darby. “So, Top, what did you see outside of Kabul?”
The Rangers all looked at the colonel with surprise, but nobody was quick to respond.
“What do you mean, Colonel Hatch?” Darby asked, trying to act like he didn’t have the slightest idea what the colonel was referring to.
Instead of getting mad, which would have been a waste of time and energy, Hatch laughed good-naturedly. Then he said, “Ensign Alvarez, please show him your photograph.”
Lupita unzipped her flight suit, exposing enough cleavage to make those men present squirm a little, before she pulled out the aerial photograph. She handed it over to Darby, while pulling the zipper back up.
The leader looked at it, but only briefly, before he passed it along. Each Ranger looked at it in turn, before returning it to the ensign.
Hatch waited patiently.
“It wasn’t like anything we’ve seen before, Colonel,” Sergeant Stillwell broke the silence. “Those people were eating each other. It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever witnessed and I’ve been in some pretty disgusting situations.”
The others nodded in agreement.
“Is that why you’re here, Colonel, you and the Ensign, to shut us up?” Darby asked warily.
Hatch laughed, while shaking his head. “No, Sergeant Darby, we’re here to make sure you get back to the United States in one piece.”
Of course, the colonel had no idea what Ensign Alvarez was actually up to. He assumed she had her own agenda, but wouldn’t hazard a guess as to what that might be. Now he wasn’t overly trusting either, which meant he never took his eyes off her. Besides, she was nice to look at.
The constant clatter of the wheels had a rhythmic syncopation to them, which lulled them all to sleep. Actually they were exhausted, so the rest did them good.
Russia certainly had no shortage of trees. In fact, the stowaway passengers spent hours staring at trees through the tiny windows of the baggage car for the majority of the journey. One section of vast forest after another covered the terrain for as far as they could see.
At one time, Novosibirsk was considered one of the most modern Soviet cities. The metropolis strategically located in the heart of Russia and was situated on both banks of the River Ob.
“Alright men, let’s move these crates and parcels, so we can make one more nice little hiding place for all of us until Vladivostok,” Sergeant Stillwell suggested. “We need to be out-of-sight by the time the security boys make their next walk-through.”
While Ensign Alvarez stood out of their way, Hatch and the Rangers shifted several large crates to make space. With some imagination and the careful rearranging of luggage, they were able to construct a hidden alcove, where all of them could wait out the remainder of the journey. It would be crowded, with eight of them sitting almost on top of each other, but the closeness would keep them warm too.
Upon reaching Irkutsk, the Paris of Siberia, the Americans were forced to take cover yet again. This time, however, the Russian security forces were more thorough in their search, questioning every passenger, the train crew and searching each and every car. It was only because Darby and Hatch had made certain that the crates were pushed pretty close to the wall that nobody checked behind them. Still, the Rangers had their weapons ready, just in case.
An hour later, the Trans-Siberian Express pulled out of the station, beginning the most scenic and famous portion of the trip. Few natural sights could ever surpass the beauty and grandeur of Lake Baikal and it was the major highlight on this journey. Lake Baikal held 20% of the world’s fresh water.
Also known as the Pearl of Siberia, it was home to a unique breed of freshwater seal and over fifty species of fish including omul. For five straight hours the train wound its way through tunnels along cliff hugging tracks above the lake, with a vista of snowcapped peaks along the far shore forming a picture-perfect backdrop.
The Trans-Siberian railway train entered a tunnel on the Baikal stretch of line just west of Kultuk. Lake Baikal was recognized as the deepest lake in the world at 1,620 meters. In winter it was covered with ice so thick that locals drove their trucks over it.
